Machine for cutting and chamfering metal sheets



April 20, 1948. BUGATT] 2,439,794 I MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND CHAMFERING METAL SHEETS Filed Oct 29, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. BUGATTI April 2 0, I948.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND CHAMFERING METAL SHEETS 4 Sliets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 39, 1945 A ril 20, 1948.. T, 2,439,794

MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND CHAMFERING METAL SHEETS Filed Oct. 29, 1945 Q 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 20, 1948. E. BUGATTI 2,439,794

MACHINE FOR CUTTIFNG AND CHAMFERING METAL SHEETS 7 Filed Oct. 29, 1945' 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 {3 4/ 84 "Q 41 29. (9, M 34 2 a;

i l w w my 322-. 34 g0 A v4a 40 4i.

Patented Apr. 20, 1948 MACHINE FOR CUTTING AND CHAMFERING METAL SHEETS Ettore Bugatti, Paris, France Application o oter'zc, 1945, Serial No. 625,338

In France November 20, 1944 Metal sheets used in the various operations connected with boiler-making and metallic construction (ship hulls, boilers, tanks, vats, tubulures, and the like) are generally subjected.

of which at least is rotatively driven aroundits. axis. The propulsion of the carriage is effected either by the reaction of the cutting-wheel'on the metal sheet, or by any other knownmeans.

Shears are also used which are fixed to carry out this operation, and the work is done by moving the metal sheet, which, however, is attended with certain disadvantages resulting from the space taken up, which is at least equal to double the length of the sheet iron, and from the difficulty in suitably guiding the conveying device along such a great length.

Furthermore, most of these machines, of whatever type they may be, uniess they are provided with suitable devices for performing the chamfering, do not permit rectilinear cuts.

The object of this invention is to produce universal cropping and chamfering shears capable.

of cutting the metal sheets according to any outline, either rectilinear or sinuous, and to execute these cuts either perpendicularly to the surfaces or at a certain angle, in which case the cuts according to the outline and the chamiering at the requisite angle are produced in a single operation.

The following description, with reference to the accompanying drawing, given by way of nonlimitative example, explains how the invention' can be performed, whilst the distinguishing features, which are shown in the drawing and in the text, form naturally part of said invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan diagram of the principal movements of a cutting operation carried out according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a similar diagram showing the profile cutting in the case of a cut perpendicular to the faces of the metal sheet.

Fig. 3 shows in a similar way the position of the cutting-Wheels when the cutting is obliqu (chamfering) Fig. 4 is a profile view of the machine in partial sections.

Fig. 5 is a front view of a portion chine.

, g. 6 is a plan view of the machine, partly cut oil". 4 Fig. 7 shows on a large scale the constructional detail. I i

Fig. 8 also on a large scale is a horizontal out along the axis of one of the cutting-wheels.

The metal sheet I (Fig. 1) is shown in plan. The upper cutting-wheel 2, which alone is visible, is in such a position that the cutting edge 2d is along the outline 3. This outline, in full lines in the left-hand side portion of figure, is merged in the edge just cut 4 of the metal sheet. In the right-hand side, a part of the outline 3,

of said mashown in dot-and-dash lines, is distinct [from-the edge 5, which is rough. The line 5a indicates the original shape of the metal sheet in the part already cut. .The arrow 6 shows the direction of the movement of thecutting-wheel carrier, its frame and the transverse and longitudinal carriages, not shown in the figure, but referred to in the course of the specification. The arrows 1 and 8 indicate the directions of the movements of the cutting-wheelcarrier, of its frame and of the transverse carriage. The arrows 9 and Ill show the direction of the displacements of the cutting-wheel carrier and of .its frame around the pivot I l, the axis of which coincides with the projection of the contact point 2a of the cutting edge of the Wheels with the outline 3. These displacements around the pivot H are controlled by the operator, whose duty consists in continuously keeping the axis of the cutting-wheel carrier shaft l2 normal to the curves of the outline 3, or perpendicular to said outline when it is rectilinear. The displacements following the arrows I and 8 are dependent upon the movements around the pivot II, and their amplitude is directly connected with the arrow of the curves of the outline 3. V

The wheel-carrying shaft l2 revolves in the carriage.

The metal sheet I is shown in Fig. 2 in transverse section, and the upper cutting-wheel 2 and its shaft l2 are in such a position that the axis of said shaft I2 is parallel to the face l of the metal sheet I. The lower cutting-wheel lib and its shaft is occupy a position similar to that of the cutting-wheel 2 and its shaft l2. 'The edge 5' 3 of the metal sheet is, in this case, perpendicular to the face M.

In order to reach the position shown in Fig. 3 (edge 4 of the metal sheet I inclined relatively to the face it), it is necessary to cause the support of the cutting-wheels 2 and I5 to rotate by the requisite angle in its guide, and to immobilize it in this position. The arrows 4:1 and l8 indicate,-in both cases, the directionpf lthe;mov.ements to be performed around the centre 2a.

The cutting-wheel carrier i9 (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 57

and 8) has the shape of a notched disc, or, more simply, of a half-moon, and comprisesa 19a adapted to allow the cutting-wheels 2 "and I5 to cut at a certain distance from the sedge 5a of the metal sheet I. The depth of this notch l9a limits the capacity of the shearing in the transverse direction, but it is quite understood that a machine of this type is never used to :cut sections; in such case use is made of rectilinear or guillotine .shears, which are :much better adapted to this kind of work.

.The face .23 ef the cutting-wheel vcarrier 19, which is in the front in Fig. 4, is machined so as to :take up the support .2! ,of .the upper .cutting-wheel 2, which support is secured by arow f :SO BWS :22. The rhei htbf this support '21 -ls adjustable by means .of :stud holes .Zla and by operating ;a suitable controlling ,device, .as, for instance, a screw :23, guided bya i support -24, which is fastened to the disc .19 by means .of bolts'Z5,:and=a=controlling wheel 26, fixed .to the screw :23. This screw engages -a threaded boss z-l' biof thesupportizl This vertical adjustment is effected 'to bring :the cutting .edge .-2a of the upper .cutting rvheel ,2 .in contact with the .edge 15a tor the lower cutting-wheel i .whenever the cutting wheel :2 has Joeen sharpened since sharpeningcauses a reduction ,of diameter. The edge 45a of the Flower .cutting-wheel may snotlbe a cutting .edge. .After adjustment. the support 2| is immobilized by means .of .the .screws 122. which .are tightened .or loosened as may "be. required.

The .support 2-1 .of the lower cutting-wheel L5 is fixed ,on 'the disc 19 by a row of bolts or screws 28. These supports .21 andZ] .are .guided in the yertical directionbyfeatherikeys '29 (Fig. 8),, which ensure a :correct position of :saidysupportsjn case ofrefitting.

Furthermore'the support *2! has the peculiar characteristic (Fig '8) of being "bored along an axis which is notparallel to {the face "20 of the disc 1 9. The-angle 30 *has ayalue ofabout'one degree, the object of this being to facilitate --the cuttingaction of-wheel because the plane faces of the cutting 'wheels are "thus set at -a small angle as-are the blades of "usual "scissors for cutting cloth and such an arrangement is known to be favourable.

The-shaft 42 of the upper cutting wheei l 'revolves in a ring 32 (Fig. 8) fitted in :thesupport Z1. Shaft-t2 carriesaworm gearf33pfixed thereto bykeys 34'; a threaded portion '35 takes up a .pincer nut 36, itight'ened by a bolt 31, which serves to zblock the putting-wheel :2 against shoulder 12a; the cutting-wheel '2 is made dast with shaft 12 by a key 3 8. Any side play :is taken up by washers :or :rings, (one :of which, 39, rubs against the :inner rface 540 :of the :cnttingwheel .2, andthemther, 4i, :made 'fastwrth the support 22 I :by La :p rubs :against ithe :face .53 of t "worm .2 Amut M, s rew d 011 the th eadi f th support -21, .znus'hes theezins 39 against the :face "40 0f the cutting-Wheel i and serves to adjust the position of said cuttingwheel in axial direction; a pin or finger 45 held by a screw 41 in a recess. provided in support 2i locks the nut 44 in its adjustment position. A second pincing nut 49 clamped by a bolt 31, is screwed on a screw-threaded end portion of shaft I2 and allows of adjusting axial play after the position of the cutting-wheel 2 has been adjusted as above stated.

The lower cutting-wheel I5 is keyed on its shaft l6, and it is blocked against a shoulder of said shaft l6 by a pincing nut 52 (Figs. 4 and ;6;) :similar to'the nuts 35 and 49 referred to in connection with the upper cutting-wheel 2. A ring :53 ,is :arranged between the adjacent faces of the cutting-wheel I5 and the support 27; it

Y isjimmobilizedby any means (for instance, by a step 'pin) on the support 21, and its other face rubs-against the adjacent face of the cuttingwheel 15.

.A worm gear .54 (Figs. .6 and 7),.keyed at 55 on the shaft .15, transmits the movement to the cutting-wheel l5. Worm gear 54 :rubs against .thecheekfifi ofsupport 21. A ball thrust hearing maylbe .provided between these .two elements in :order to absorb the .axial stress due to the operation .of the cutting-wheel 15. .A .pincing nut,.n0t shown in the .drawings, makes .itpossible to adiust the axial ,play .of .the shaft .IG in the support .2land keeps assembled the various .elemerits dependent upon the support 27, in .accordance with a .constructional mode similar .to that ,of the elements assembled with the support 121. a

.A sm leshaft '57 transmits the movement to the worm gearsiiS and .54 through worms 58 and 59 whichhave opposite pitches so as to drive the cutting-wheels 2 and .l 5 ineopposite .directions \to one another.

The shaft 5] .iisitselfoperated by a worm gear 68, [keyed at (6|, .and locked by .ahut .52 and a worm {63, which is fast with apulley .515. The three worm and gear couples 133-'58,54159 and 6063 are calculated so'as'toconsiderably reduce the angular speed frompulley 64 so that thecutting Wheels? and 15 revolve veryslowly.

The axial thrust produced by worms 58 and 591s absorbedg'loy the frictionringsifii (Fig. 14),, or by ball abutmentor'thrustbearings 66 (Fig.1?) resting on theupper-faces .61 .and the lower .faces 6813f the casing --6'9. The upper ring "65, -or the upper abutment 56, are held on ithe'end of the shaft '5-1 by a protective ring 3| "and "a nut 5L The casing 69 comprises three bearings -78, ll and -72 in which the shaft '51 revolves; in 'its lower part it is arranged -to serve as a housing for'theworm gear -50 and the worm 53. This casing 69 is made of two parts which are joined'in a plane :passing through the axis Y of the shaft 51, the second part :forming a cover as indicated by the reference 113 (Fig. 15)

The :system :constituted by the :casing 69, :its cover i'lfinthe shaft 5:1, the worms 2-58 and 59, the abutments i5 501 .(iii, the wormigear 550, and the wormsfifisisnecurednmtherface2B olfithe cuttingwheel :oarrier l 9 by means -:of ;a row .of :screwsor bolts M.

The -.w orm and gear couples :33--tfi8, andzfi 5- 55 are notrencloseddn the. casingdiil,wconsideringrthat their very reduced rotaryspeedcan do-with'little lubrication; only .the couple -43, which 2116* volves ;at :a :much higher speed, .is confined -.in casing 69, which permits lubricating.byzsplashtlurication, 10.1 even under pressure.

An electric motor 15 is fixed on aisupport ilfi.

5 pivotally borne on a pin 11, which is itself integral with the casing 69. Belts I8 which transmit the movement of the pulley I9 off the motor I5 to the pulley 64, are stretched by means of an adjustable leg 80 which for this purpose may comprise a pair of screws 8|, 82 having opposite pitches.

The cutting-wheel support I9 revolves in the frame 83 in which it is guided by its cylindrical faces Bland 85 (Fig. 8). A series of catches 85 (Figs. 4 and 6) distributed over the contact area of the cutting-wheel carrier I9 in the frame 83, hold, when they are blocked, by means of screws 81 penetrating the frame 83, the cutting-wheel carrier I9 in the angular position chosen in con sideration of the angle at which it is desired to cut the metal'sheet. The rotation of the cutting- Wheel carrier I9 can be controlled by a pinion I29 (Fig. 5), integral with a shaft II'I, revolving in a support I I8, fixed on the face 20 of the cuttingwheel carrier I9, and a toothed sector I I9, secured to the frame 83. I The operation is carried out by using, for instance, the head I20 of the shaft I II, which head is provided with holes for that purpose.

The frame 83 is fixed by a vertical pivot 89 on a plate 88, which performs the duty of a transverse carriage. The pivot 89 is blocked by its upper part 890iand a nut 90 in the base of the frame 83. Its central part 891) revolves in a boring of the plate or carriage 88, and finally its lower part 890 is threaded to receive a nut 91 which is locked thereon in any manner that does not interfere with free rotation of frame 83 and pivot 89. The device which controls this rotation comprises a toothed sector 92, integral with the platecarriage 88, a pinion 93 which meshes with the sector 92, a spindle 94 revolving in a support 95, fixed to the frame 83, a casing 96, a shaft 91, a support 98, also fixed to the frame 83, and a handwheel 99, keyed on the shaft 91. This control is within the reach of the hand of the operator who works the machine, and is used, as has been explained in the course of the specification, for directing the cutting-wheels alongthe outline.

The transverse movements which allow the cutting-wheels to follow the outline are effected by the plate 88, which is guided for the purpose by four rollers I00, loosely mounted on spindles I M, arranged on a frame I02, which acts as a longitudinal carriage.

The load is carried by another row of rollers I93, revolving loosely around spindles I04, also provided on the frame I02. The latter runs over rollers I06 and I01 on rails, one of which I05 has an upwardly tapering cross section as shown. Two of the rollers, I06, for instance, have the shape of a double truncated cone corresponding to the profile of the rail I05, and they provide for the guiding of the carriage I02. The two other rollers I01 are cylindrical and run on the rail I08, the section of which is normal.

The two rails I05 and I are preferably embedded in the floor of the workshop.

A series of supports I09, made of profiled iron, are fixed at, intervals along the rails I and I08. The iron sheet to be cut is laid on a backing plate H0 borne on supports I99 and clamped thereon by screw-clamps III.

The shape of the supports I09 is adapted to their function; they preferably comprise a part I09a sloping towards the edge 4 of the metal sheet I so that the metal sheet I can be further held by wedges II2 driven between said metal sheet I and the plate N0 of the supports I09.

It is possible to protect the various rollers which allows the displacements of the carriage 88 by two metal sheets IIB, fixed on the frame I 02, for example on the pivot pins I 0| of the rollers I00. The edges II 6a of metal sheets II6 engage recesses or grooves 88a in the vertical edges of plate 88.

This specification is brought to an end by a last observation concerning the comparative diameter of the cutting-wheels 2 and I5. The cutting-wheel I5 may with advantage have a diameter greater than that of the cutting-wheel 2, so that, the angular speeds being equal, the cutting-wheel I5, which is' not generally active,

ensures alone the progress of the shearing, andthus reduces the work imposed upon the cuttingwheel 2, upon its shaft I2 and upon its support 2 I.

It will readily be understood from the above description that after cutting wheels 2, I5 have been brought to nip a metal sheet I to be cut, at an end thereof, and motor I5 is in operation thus rotating the cutting wheels in opposite directions, the reaction of said cutting wheels on the metal sheet causes carriage I02 'to roll on rails I05, I08; as the worker seated on seat II3 may cause the cradle 83 and hence the tool-carrier I9 to pivot at 89 by operating hand-wheel 99 and since the secondar carriage 88 may freely move on rollers I03 and. between rollers I00 on the primary carriage I02; the worker may direct the cutting-wheels 2, I5-'-to follow the required line on the metal sheet I. Furthermore he may initially adjust the position of tool-carrier I9 in its supporting cradle 83 (by operating head I20 on shaft I I1) to set the axesof cutting-wheels 2, I5 to anyrequisite angle with respect to the plane of metal sheet I, for instance with a view to 0btaining a chamfered edge along the freshly cut sheet.

What I claimis:

1. In a machine of the type described having a bed, the combination of a main carriage adapted to travel on said bed; means for guiding said carriage on the bed along a rectilinear path; a secondary carriage on the main carriage adapted to travel thereon; means for guiding the secondary carriage along a transverse path on said main carriage; a pair of cooperating cutting wheels; means for revolubly supporting said cutting wheels from the secondary carriage, including swiveling means whereby the cutting wheels can move bodily about an axis at right angles to the bed; and means supported from the secondary carriage to impart rotary motion to said wheels in opposite directions.

2. In a machine of the type described having a bed and a support adapted to be moved in any direction parallel with said bed, the combination of a pair of revoluble cutting wheels arranged in substantially tangential relationship at a cutting point; a cradle which has a cylindrical guiding surface having its axis passing through said cutting point and parallel to said bed, said cradle being carried on said support and adapted for pivotal movement thereon about an axis which aaaaaee is at right angles to :said :suHPort and masses through said cutting point; t-meansecooperating with. said cylindrical surface'toibeguided thereby for swinging motion :about theaaxis of -said surface for-revolubly supporting-said cutting wheels from said cradle; and means carried from :the wheel supporting :means for imparting rotary motions to-saidwheels ;in {opposite directions.

-3. The combination of claim 2, which further comprises cooperating means on said sunport and cradle -for manually 'turning the latter on the former about said ;.pivotal movement axis; and cooperating means zonasaid cradle and wheel supporting means for moving the latter in said cradle about the axis of the cylindrical surface.

4. The combinationof claim 3, which further comprises cooperating means on saidcradle and wheel supporting means -for moving the latter in said cradle about the axisnof the cylindrical surface, toany desired'working position; and-means for locking said wheel supporting means .in said cradle in said working position.

5. Ina machineof'theitype-described, a tool carrying unit which 7 comprises a crescent-shaped rigid disk having a cylindrical bearing surface, theaxisufsaid cylindrical surface ibeing at right angles to the plane of said "disk and located on the concave side of said crescentashaped disk; 2. pair of cooperating xcutting wheels'having-their peripheries in substantiallycontacting relationshipiat agpoint which substantially coincides with the centre of said cylindrical [bearing surface; means for rotatably-supportingoneotsaid wheels with its axis inrsubstantially parallelrelationship with theplane ofsaid-disk in a stationaryjpnsition on saiddisk; means ,forrotatablysup orting the other wheel on saiddiskin an adjustable position With-respectto the .firstwheel with its axisin-substantially parallel relationship with the :plane of said dish; a motorsupported on said disk; and transmission means between said motor and said wheels for rotating the latter, adapted and 29d ranged to drive them -inopposite directions at substantially equal peripheral speeds.

6. In a machine of the type described, :the

combination ,of aihed; a cuttingwheelssunpnrtin carriage, adapted to :travel on said .hed; ==a mair of cooperating, .revoluble ncutting wheels; :means for rotatably supporting-'one-of said wheels :from said marriage, with its axis :parallel -:to :said .rbed: and :means for rotatably supporting the other wheel fromsaid carriage with ,its axis gpa-rallebto said bed but ,at :small angle with i-the first: named axis.

7. A-shect metal cuttingrmachine, which oomprises a wheeled maimcarriage a secondarycarriage on the.maincarriageadapted'tozmoveithereon; means for guiding the secondary carriage along a fixed pathon saidtmainlcarriage;-a;pair of cooperating cutting-wheels; :means;for.r.ev0lubly supporting said cutting wheels from -.the :secondary carriage, including swiveling lmeans ;providing a pivotal axis 1 at i right angles to saidsecondary carriageforhodily movementiofasaldscutting wheels; a motor supported from the secondary'vcarriage to impart rotaxgyrmotion=;to.-said goutting wheels .in oppositeedirections; imeanslincluding a hand control, for controlling said bodily movement of the cutting wheels about said pivotal axis; and aseatsupported from said amain -:carriage in the vneighbourhood :of said;hand zcontrol.

-8. In amachine of theatypadescribedthe combination'of a carriage;;a;pair-of;revolub1e, cooperating cutting wheels means forrsupportingrsaid cutting wheels consaid :carriage with the ;plane -of their axes substantially;perpendicular'to:said carriage, and for bodily rocking imovement iOf said axes in said :plane about an axis parallel to1said carriage; and means carried from the first named means for imparting rotary motions tosaidcutting Wheels :in opposite directions.

ETTQRFE ,iBUGATTI.

REFERENCES =CIT-ED FOREIGN PATENTS :Gountry :Date Great Britain fiept.i23, 2188.9

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